title: Recent updates of surgical techniques and applications of free vascularized fibular graft in extremity and trunk reconstruction.
abstract: Successful free vascularized bone transfers have revolutionized the limb salvage and musculoskeletal reconstruction. The free vascularized fibula remains the mainstay in bone reconstruction combines the benefits of blood supply, biological potential, and callus formation with its unique biomechanical characteristics offering a supreme candidate for various dissolvable issues. Especially in conditions where there was lack of other applicable method and the free vascularized fibular graft was introduced as the only alternative. Extensive traumatic bone loss, tumor resection, femoral head osteonecrosis and congenital defects have been managed with exceptional results beyond expectations. The present manuscript updates several issues in application of free vascularized fibular graft in extremity and trunk reconstruction. It also highlights tips and pearls of surgical technique in some crucial steps of harvesting the vascularized fibular graft in order to offer a vascularized bone with safety and low donor site morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Ioannina, School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece. koroban@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Anastasios V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Korompilias
authors.forename: Nikolaos K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Paschos
authors.forename: Marios G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lykissas
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kostas-Agnantis
authors.forename: Marios D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Vekris
authors.forename: Alexandros E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Beris
mesh_terms: D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005121:Extremities / Q000601:surgery; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013909:Thorax